What is an Arhat, you might ask? Well, not quite a Buddha, but a tad more advanced than I am.
I made it to Ho-onji Soto Zen Buddhist temple. Its claim to fame are the representative figures of 499 Arhats, carved long ago in Kyoto. Quite wonderful, actually, because these figures show the full range of human emotion, from laughter to calm meditative states. I might have expected them all to be represented as pious ever-too-saintly figures. Thankfully, no.
This was my first visit to a Buddhist temple in Japan. A good beginning. Only 76,999 to go!. Even if I were an Arhat I couldn’t visit them all, at least not in the time I have left to me. I read that Buddhism in Japan is going to be losing many of these temples in the years to come due to lack of participation and funding. On the other hand, Buddhism in America is on the rise. I’ll not speculate on the reasons for this.
I’ll add many more pictures of the Arhats and the Monastery without further comment. Please enjoy these lovely Arhats. I did! And, enjoy that menacing Japanese dragon (differs from the British version with wings) painted on the ceiling of the Arhat room. Got to love those fearsome creatures rising from the depths of our imaginations!
Autumn In Japan 
What a range of expressions! Thanks for sharing & for pointing me to this way to share your autumn in Japan. Hoping you’re having a good time & finding some daily coffee!
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